from Mom ...

The continuing saga ...

Not much new to report.  I’m still having considerable pain from my surgery, but we saw the P.A. in the surgeon’s office and he said everything is perfectly normal, no problems there.  I just had my second course of the new chemo drug yesterday and have had a fairly rough week following the one from last Thursday. I have next week off and then will have my CA125 checked on September 2^nd to determine if the chemo is having any effect. If not, he’ll offer me one more type of chemo, but I may decide to call it a day with the chemo.  We’ll see ...

As I mentioned in my previous update, we have done extensive research on the use of high potency THC in marijuana for possibly shrinking cancer tumors.  We visited one of the “finer” dispensaries  and I am attempting to ingest enough of the liquid/tar high THC on a daily basis.  It’s more difficult than I had imagined to try and balance the effects with being able to function in almost any manner. I’m just doing the best I can.

If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.                                                                                        - Rabindranath Tagore

Love you all,

Big Giant Grandma Nysh

Wonderful pic that Beth took before surgery, me with youngest granddaughter Mae!

from Mom ...

What to say ...

I think Maggie pretty well summed things up in her previous posting.  I am recovering from the cardio thoracic surgery, although having more pain than I had anticipated.  The surgeon said it is equivalent to having ribs broken, so not to expect too rapid of a recovery. All of the biopsies he did from the heart and lung sacs, my diaphragm, etc. all came back positive for metastasis of ovarian disease. 

A quick thank you for all the cards/food/calls/flowers/emails ... too many to respond to individually.

The discussion with my oncologist was sobering. As Maggie said, he commented that we have been fighting the good fight, but now the cancer is winning.  He was not very encouraging about the chemo I’m starting tomorrow, but thinks it’s worth a try. I hate to be so morose but he thinks that if the chemo doesn't work to slow down the growth, we’re looking at months.  Hopefully, I’ll have another Christmas with the kids & grandkids. The ambiguity is the worst part.  Ben is planning on coming back to the Springs, probably within the month.  He’s looking at options for completing his Master’s program, which he would have completed this semester. As one more treatment option, we are exploring the use of cannabis/marijuana as a “treatment” for the cancer itself, not just to reduce the side effects of the chemo.  There is a lot of research going on in this area, just very limited and guarded here in the states. The next time you see me, I may be even more goofy and chatty (yes, it’s possible, Ellen).

The kids and Paul and I are trying to be open and discussing what all this means. Tough stuff for sure. Paul asked me where I want to go, what do I want to do in the next few months and honestly, there are children to love, grandchildren to hug and enormous basil waiting for me in my greenhouse ... it just doesn't get any better than that.

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.  -  Henry Drummond

Love you all,

Big Giant Grandma Nysh

fly fishing in Mammoth in July

today with baby Nyshie
fabulous tee from niece Leslie, "EFF CANCER"

BLOG WORKING!

Thank you so much to the fabulous Erin for figuring out what was "broken" with the blog.  Thank you, thank you!!!

I had the day wrong, Mom's doc appts were today.  Mom, Paul and I  met with the PA at her heart surgeon's office this a.m.  She had a chest x-ray first and everything was fine.  Lungs & heart look good.  She's still having a fair amount of pain, which unfortunately will last awhile.

Oncology appt was mid-day.  I'm giving the brief version tonight, Mom will expand on this tomorrow.  Sadly, Mom's CA125 is now 1622.  This, and all of the fluid complications, are factors of the late stage of the ovarian disease.  The doc put it simply that Mom was winning for a long time and now the cancer is.  She is going to try a different chemo on Thursday.  The treatment options are coming to an end.  

I'll let Mom fill in the rest ....

Love,
Maggie

Hi all. I checked out for a bit, sorry I haven't been posting info. I'm going to stick with posting brief updates here because I'm missing people via email. It has been a rough week with somewhat minor complications, relatively speaking. Early in the week, Mom started developing a swelling in her upper abdomen, this is something that has come and gone for awhile now. It had been attributed to fluid from her liver, due to her liver not working properly from the cancer. After severe discomfort, not being able to eat & a night of vomiting, they decided to drain it today. However, when she had the ultrasound an hour ago the radiologist saw no fluid. So, what is it? We have no idea. Calls into several docs. The pathology report did come back & it said that all of the fluid drained from her lung & her pericardial sac, as well as tissue samples sent in from surgery, are all malignant and consistent with the ovarian disease. So, there is no evidence of a secondary cancer. Her appt with her oncologist is Monday. Game plan will be decided then. She is having some pain, certainly discomfort & feeling pretty down. Thanks again for all of the support from everyone. Love, M

Sorry for the update delay. Mom has had very little energy. Today was a bit rough, pain & feeling generally icky. Not much else for now ...

Mom said she would type an update an email it this evening. Not much else to report for now. Thanks for all the love from everyone!!

Mom has had some pain and a bit of a sleepless night. She is napping now! Paul headed off to WY to meet family friend, Tony, for a well deserved fly-fishing trip. I'm at the house with Mom. She did walk to the greenhouse with me & we harvested dinner for tonight.

Still no love from the blog site. Sorry! Mom's pain is down & spirits are up ... we'll take it!! Home tomorrow!